NYC Police Investigating Staten Island School Bus Collision By The Intersection of Constant Avenue and Westcott Boulevard
STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK (October 2, 2023) – A pedestrian was injured in a Staten Island school bus collision by the intersection of Constant Avenue and Westcott Boulevard.
New York City police officials are saying that the collision took place around 7:24 a.m. on Friday. A pedestrian was hit by the yellow school bus during the early morning rush hour.
The victim was in the crosswalk when the crash took place. An ambulance was called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim.
The male victim was taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment. Another school bus was called to the scene so that the children on board could be taken to school.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For New York City School Bus Accidents
School buses are typically very safe and most of those seriously injured in crashes are pedestrians. According to Injury Facts, “From 2010 to 2019, about 69% of the deaths in school bus-related crashes were occupants of vehicles other than the school bus, and 17% were pedestrians. About 6% were school bus passengers, 5% were school bus drivers, and 3% were pedalcyclists.” Bus drivers should take a number of measures in order to avoid hitting pedestrians.
- Bus drivers should check their blind spots before making turns.
- Bus drivers should be well rested before heading out onto the road.
- Bus drivers should slow down when crossing intersections with pedestrians nearby.
Bus drivers must exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians. As commercial drivers, they must undergo specialized training. Pursuant to New York Vehicle Code 1146, all drivers must exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians, bicyclists and domestic animals in the roadway. When a driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting pedestrians, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
The company that a school bus driver worked for could also be liable for a crash. Employers are typically liable for the wrongful acts of their employees. According to Judith M. v. Sisters of Charity Hosp., 93 N.Y.2d 932, 933 (1999) respondeat superior will apply “so long as the tortious conduct is generally foreseeable and a natural incident of the employment.” Victims of bus accidents should take a number of measures to preserve their rights.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- The police report for the collision should be collected.
- Surveillance footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras should be sought.
- An experienced bus accident attorney should be contacted.
Most pedestrian collisions are preventable. They tend to happen when bus drivers are distracted or not checking their blind spots. It is easy for a pedestrian to be entirely hidden in the blind spot of a school bus. Any person that is injured in a school bus accident may have legal recourse through a personal injury claim. A bus accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Getting Legal Help After Staten Island School Bus Accidents
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to the pedestrian injured in this Staten Island bus accident. It is our sincere hope that the victim will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Staten Island school bus accident? Our team of bus accident attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
